Both the passenger and driver walked off, but the C7’Vette didn’t.
Track days should not be taken lightly. Even on the most safe tracks, it is important to drive a car that has minimal power. Willow Springs Raceway is not an easy track, and the C7 Corvette Z06 has a lot of power. Let this video remind you that trouble can strike when it is least expected.
This video shows a Z06 yellow Z06 making a trip to Willow Springs. As the video is called Steve’s Z06 Corvette at Willow Spring Raceway, it is likely that Steve is the owner/driver of the ‘Vette. After setting up the Corvette’s Performance Data Recorder, (PDR), Steve and a passenger leave the pits. The passenger records the action and then switches to the PDR which shows the Corvette maneuvering through turn one at around 67 mph.
The problem is not at the corner exit or at turn 2. The car accelerates on the straight and then suddenly, the rear end speeds up to around 80 mph. The car is sent off the track by a quick fishtail to its left. This causes it to skid off the right side into a large berm. It rolls at least twice as fast as we can see. The footage cuts to the passenger’s video, which shows that the driver was actually going quite smoothly through the turn. We wonder if the tire had lost pressure or if the track was slick. The back end moves out.
This is the most brutal part of the video. We hear the car rolling and the glass breaking. We hear a groan from someone, which gives us cause to be concerned. But it is quickly followed by confirmation that everyone is fine. Steve, who we assume was the man, summarized the crash with a simple sentence: “Too many power, not enough grip.”
The C7 Z06’s stock trim produces 650 horsepower (485kilowatts). This makes it quite powerful, even without any modifications. Although we don’t know the length of Steve’s ownership (the Hertz sticker on the window makes us worry), it’s evident that everyone left the car without any injuries.
Safety is key, no matter how much you have fun on the track or on the streets.